Edmund's Inside Line says the MINI John Cooper Works Countryman is coming to the 2012 Geneva Auto Show. It will be the first John Cooper Works model to get all-wheel drive and an optional six-speed automatic. It features a new turbocharged direct-injection 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine rated at 211 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque with preliminary specs of 0-60 mph acceleration in less than 7.1 seconds with average fuel economy of 33 mpg. That makes it the most powerful stock MINI.

MotorAuthority gives the 2012 MINI Cooper Clubman an 8 out of 10 in its review. It decides:

The good news is that opting for the more practical Clubman doesn't mean you have to miss out on any of the regular Cooper's sporty offerings like the 208-horsepower John Cooper Works edition. For our money we’d definitely pick this variant, as not only do you get a turbocharged 1.6-liter engine dishing out 208 horsepower and 192 pound-feet of torque, but a host of suspension mods to help you make the most of it.

When the Coupe S was in Sport mode, we noticed the increased responsiveness of the throttle sportier tuning of the ride. Its handling was like a dream, offering a firm grip on the road and easily tackling corners like a rally car. The short wheelbase renders a smaller turning radius, making U-turns as quick as a New York minute.

On April 28, 2011, NorCal MINIs will participate in the 22nd Annual Pacific Coast Dream Machines Show at the Half Moon Bay Airport in Half Moon Bay, CA. This is an incredible charity event for the Coastside Adult Day Health Center with a huge selection of beautiful and unique vehicles.

Registration is now open . Click HERE to register and for more information. If you enter before April 15, 2012, the entry fee is $30 which entitles the driver and passenger admission to the event (after April 15, 2012, the cost goes up to $40 and, if you don't enter your vehicle, admission is $20/adult, Age 11-17 and 65+ $15 (Cash only accepted at the gate).) By entering your vehicle you will save money and be able to park with us.

To park together we must arrive early and first assemble off-site. Thus, we will meet up at 7:00 a.m. in the parking lot in front of:

The Roadster scores over the Coupé in being a more visceral and invigorating experience, especially because you can revel in the exhaust's more parpy note once the sports button is pressed. The massive central speedometer remains useless but is now a signature design feature, but all the info you need is in front of you.

Car and Driver compares the 2012 Nissan Juke AWD, the MINI Cooper S Countryman All4 and the Jeep Compass Latitude 4X4 and puts them through a number of tests. In part, here is what it has to say about the MINI:

This swollen Mini—all Minis, in fact—would have more securely won our hearts if someone would sort out its cockpit goofiness. What seems fun at first—a speedometer the size of a basketball, window-lift toggles hidden in front of the shifter, the world’s most mismatched and insanely located switchgear—isn’t even remotely amusing during a white-knuckle midnight drive through sleet. We also noted that, with two largish males up front, this car always felt claustrophobic, full of hot air and bad breath. Also keep in mind that the rear seats in our test car comprise two buckets only, although they’re quite comfortable.

When the planets align—meaning perfectly smooth roads, sunshine, one man aboard, the sport button already located and selected by someone who knew how to find it—the Countryman proved the most fun to drive in our group, scoring points as fast as six-foot-seven, 260-pound Metta World Peace. Who, by the way, likely won’t fit inside one.

Car Magazine picks a MINI Coupe Cooper SD, the S diesel version of the Coupe unavailable in the U.S for a long term review. It explains this choice:

Opting for the Cooper SD version was a bit of a no-brainer. While the diesel Coupe loses out on the power front to its petrol-powered cousin (143bhp versus 184bhp) it clouts it for torque (a chunky 225lb ft at 1700rpm against 177lb ft at 1600rpm). And in everyday driving, high levels of low-rev torque is king. A 7.9 second dash to 62mph and a 134mph top speed means the Coupe will feel spectacularly quick after the Honda. And a claimed combined economy of 65.7mpg (the petrol Cooper S returns 44.1) sealed the deal for the diesel.

ATTENTION 2011 NORCAL MINIS MEMBERS: If you do not renew your NORCAL MINIS' membership on or before March 1, 2012 you will no longer have access to the Members Only Google Group, Email event invitations or vendor discounts. RENEW NOW!

Annual Membership is only $25.00/family and entitles you to a host of discounts from vendors and Dealers that support NORCAL MINIS, email invitations, a say in where we run and what we do and access to Members Only events and our Members Only Google Group. Just use this Paypal Button to join:

THE RUN FOR ABSENT FRIENDS

An Annual Memorial Tribute Run

Dedicated To Those With Whom We Have Motored Who Are No Longer With Us.

On Saturday, April 21, 2012, NorCal MINIs will run backroads from Angel's Camp to Murphy's in the Central California Gold Country. We will stop at Quyle Kilns and get an exclusive tour of this fantastic handmade pottery producer's operation. We will also have lunch at El Jardin.

We will meet up at 11:00 a.m. in the parking lot between Rite-Aid and Taco Bell at 200 South Main Street, Angels Camp, CA. We will leave promptly at 11:30 a.m. for an hour backroads run and arrive for our tour at Quyle Kilns at approximately 1:00 p.m.. After our tour we will proceed to downtown Murphy's for lunch at El Jardin at about 2:00 p.m.

This run is open to Members and non-members. Members, please respond to your email invitation which will be sent in early March. Non-members please tell us you are coming by emailing us at info@norcalminis.com.

RSVP BEFORE APRIL 14, 2012

SO WE CAN GET AN ACCURATE HEADCOUNT FOR THE TOUR AND FOR LUNCH

MINIS AT PACIFIC COAST DREAM MACHINES

On April 28, 2012, NorCal MINIs will participate in the 22nd Annual Pacific Coast Dream Machines Show at the Half Moon Bay Airport in Half Moon Bay, CA. This is an incredible charity event for the Coastside Adult Day Health Center with a huge selection of beautiful and unique vehicles.

Registration is now open . Click HERE to register and for more information. If you enter before April 15, 2012, the entry fee is $30 which entitles the driver and passenger admission to the event (after April 15, 2012, the cost goes up to $40 and, if you don't enter your vehicle, admission is $20/adult, Age 11-17 and 65+ $15 (Cash only accepted at the gate).) By entering your vehicle you will save money and be able to park with the club.

To park together we must arrive early and first assemble off-site. Thus, we will meet up at 7:00 a.m. in the parking lot in front of:

MINI has opened its first dealership in Amman, Jordan. According to MotoringFile:

A new Middle East sales record was achieved in 2011 not just by the MINI brand but by the BMW Group as a whole, with a total of 18,657 BMW and MINI vehicles delivered to countries in the region. The most popular markets were the Emirates Abu Dhabi and Dubai, alongside Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar, in all of which MINI too is strongly represented. Beyond this, the British premium brand sells its models in Lebanon, Bahrain and Oman as well.

The Roadster is a logical extension of the Mini brand, but is hardly the last word in originality. The big challenge for the Mini types in Munich is to conjure something more imaginative without offending its more traditional fans. The handsome, innovative Rocketman looked like the way forward, but has now been cancelled.

We have no doubt the Roadster will find a willing army of fans who must have the latest Mini. It is fun to drive and, to our eyes, better-looking than the Coupe, but the ride quality is still questionable and the roof is crude. For $28,000, we expected more.

After considerable seat time in the 2012 Mini Roadster Cooper S, we couldn't help but think that we still find the original Mini (the modern one) the best of the breed. The constant tinkering over the years has brought about some different looks, yet the dynamics of that first hatch were spot-on from the start. The Roadster's funky styling scores it some points, but it's not enough to make up for its other notable shortcomings.

"MINI UNITED: FRIENDS. FESTIVAL. RACING." - that is how the BMW Group PressClub USA press release on MINI United is titled. MINI United is scheduled for May 11-13, 2012 in Le Castellet, France. The press release announces that "[i]n addition to the many festival activities, MINI United will serve as the exclusive location for a new MINI model to make its world premiere." It is a three day event - an open-air festival, owner and fan driving experiences on the track, motorsport activities, live music, stunt shows and vehicle displays ranging from Mini classics to the current lineup. They have also scheduled two pro-series races on the circuit that weekend - the MINI Trophy from Germany and the MINI RUSH HOUR from Italy.

If you are coming from the U.S. here are your registration instructions:

US guests who plan to attend MINI United are encouraged to register at:

www.miniunited2012.com beginning Wednesday, February 22. By registering here, MINI owners in the US will enjoy a slight discount on the registration fee for a weekend pass ($50 USD at the link noted here, normally €40). Additionally, they will have access to transfers to a welcome dinner hosted by MINI USA executives, the MINI USA hospitality area during the festival, shuttles to the festival each day, test-drive vehicles for the track experience and an option to reserve a room at the discounted rate in the MINI USA room block at the Dolce Fregate hotel. This hotel is located in St Cyr sur Mer, France, which is a 15-minute drive (approximate) from the festival, 45 minutes from Marseilles Airport and 1 ½ hours from Nice airport. The hotel can assist with coordinating airport transfers.

Dollar Loan Center CEO Chuck Brennan knows how to throw a bash. At his annual company holiday party recently he helped raise nearly $300,000 for charity while partying with over famous rockers, and 500 employees and guests who were awarded $250,000 in cash and prizes.

The show opened with The Doors' Robby Krieger playing "LA Woman," followed by "Roadhouse Blues" with actor Val Kilmer, who portrayed Jim Morrison in the 1991 movie about the band. Comedian-musician Gary Mule Deer followed, then Alice Cooper, Jack Blades of Night Ranger and Mick Fleetwood of Fleetwood Mac jammed accompanied by KISS members Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer while Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley cheered from the audience.

Over $200,000 of the donations are going directly to Alice Cooper's Solid Rock Foundation, a $20,000 donation to St. Jude's Children's Hospital in the name of Robby Krieger as well as a $10,000 donation to Rupert's Kids, the nonprofit organization founded by Survivor's Rupert Boneham who was also a guest at the event.

Throughout the evening, famed "Speed Painter" Rock Demarco showcased his talents with artwork that was created live at the event and auctioned off for more than $100,000.

Energyboom Transportation reports that BMW will bring 200 electric vehicles to London for the 2012 Olympics, most MINI-E's, of the approximately 4,000 luxury vehicles BMW will supply to escort dignitaries.

Winding Road took its long-term MINI Cooper S Coupe to Atlanta, Michigan to watch the first round of the Rally America Championship, the Sno*Drift Rally, and put the Coupe's new winter tires to the test.

After President Obama singled out Tutta Bella Pizza owner Joe Fugere during the President's address at the signing of the Small Business Jobs Act and mentioned that he had yet to try their pizza, Fugere delivered 45 pizzas to the President and everyone on Air Force One. Tutta Bella created an outside kitchen at Boeing’s Paine Field in North Seattle and, in a driving rain, created 45 Neapolitan style pizzas that were baked in a wood-fired Woodstone pizza oven. Three MINI Coopers loaned by the Lake City MINI Dealership drove the pizzas to Air Force One and delivered them to the crew and Secret Service.

SkiWeltmarketing @ YouTube has posted a short commercial video about "Drive & Ski Scheffau 2012" by BMW. Drivers will test and improve their driving skills in the field on winter roads in the Wilder Kaiser Brixen Valley Resort Scheffau at Waldhof, Austria with the MINI Countryman ALL4 - under the guidance of experienced instructors at a training ground. Drivers also explore a unique ski area under the guidance of two knowledgeable local ski guides.

For What It's Worth recounts the story of Lynn Lavery’s MINI that burned up and set her garage on fire 24 hours after she’d parked it, turned it off and removed the key. The article claims BMW admitted that it knew MINIs were exploding and planned to eventually notify their customers of the danger.

MINI will support the Burton European Open for the second year in a row and present its Creative Use of Space Award to the most creative snowboarders and shape crews. MINI presents the award to the male and female riders who nail the most innovative and progressive tricks in the halfpipe and slopestyle competitions at BGOS Open events (Canadian Open, Burton European Open & US Open). Here are a couple of past award winners -

MINI of Concord is holding its "Can't Top It" Sales Event on Sunday, February 26, 2012. See and test drive the new 2012 MINI Roadster. There will be catering all day and plenty of Motoring Advsiors to get you a test drive on any of the 2012 MINI Line-Up, including the New MINI Coupe!

MINI has agreed to support the new "GREAT" Britain campaign that is based around the word GREAT and aims to promote the best of British around the world during 2012. Richard Lawton, writing for the site ContractHireAndLeasing.com, quotes Tim Abbott, Managing Director, BMW Group UK:

“As a global brand with its roots firmly planted in the UK, MINI demonstrates the best of British manufacturing, expertise, innovation, design, culture, heritage and style. We are delighted to support the “Great” Britain campaign and to celebrate and encourage others to experience all that is great about Britain.”

ATTENTION 2011 NORCAL MINIS MEMBERS: If you do not renew your NORCAL MINIS' membership on March 1, 2012 you will no longer have access to the Members Only Google Group, Email event invitations or vendor discounts. RENEW NOW!

Annual Membership is only $25.00/family and entitles you to a host of discounts from vendors and Dealers that support NORCAL MINIS, email invitations, a say in where we run and what we do and access to Members Only events and our Members Only Google Group. Just use this Paypal Button to join:

An overwhelming number of 2011 NORCAL MINIS' members voted to attend a Track Day at a Northern California Racetrack in 2012. That's exactly what NORCAL MINIS will do.

Join NORCAL MINIs at -

Here Are The Particulars

MINI Thunder III is limited to 120 MINI/Minis. This will give enough time and instructors for every driver. There will be groups ranging from first timers to advanced.

NEWSFLASH

This just in from Stormin' Norman:

We now have 40 beginners for MINI Thunder III so we need to close out that class. We will need to be sure we have coaches for all beginner students. All coaches will be needed to cover the beginner group. Please post this notice if you have a website that carries information on MINI Thunder III. We have a few openings left for advanced and maybe one or two for Intermediate. We will be closing registration on Monday unless we get more entries over the weekend. As it stand now we will have a full field of cars for the entire event.

The cost is $199 per entrant or $275 for those that want to share a Mini. This includes loads of track time, turn workers, tow-trucks, flaggers, instructors, lunch, & T-shirts. For shared entries the 1st T-Shirt is included for the primary driver and the second to be purchased @ $15 in sizes of S,M,L, XL, 2XL.

T-Shirts will be available in sizes small, medium, large, XL, and 2XL, larger shirts (3XL, 4XL, etc) must be purchased in advanced and will be at $25.00 ea.

This event is for MINI/Mini Coopers only, any model or variation.

For those that just want to come out and see what’s up you are welcome at no charge. For those who come to observe there be “ride-alongs” with instructors and coaches during the sessions for FREE, and parade laps at lunch!

Staying In Willows

Stormin' Norman, Thunderhill Raceway Park and NORCAL MINIS have thought of everything. You may find yourself rather tired as the day at the track starts early (7:00 a.m.). You might want to stay in Willows before or after the event. Therefore, we have located the following lodging deals for your lodging pleasure:

In order to get the MINI Thunder/SCCA rate for Willows, CA hotels, you must

CALL the hotel directly (do not register on-line)

Tell them that you are attending MINI Thunder III and are requesting the Thunderhill/SCCA rates. The following rates apply if you call:

NorCal MINIs has discovered that many of our Members will drive to Willows on Friday in order to participate in the Hooked On Driving event at Thunderhill Raceway on Saturday before they participate on Sunday at MINI Thunder III. If you wish to run to Willows, CA on Friday please contact Richard Stevens at carman3492@comcast.net or Kat Hsueh at minipenny@gmail.com to arrange a Bay Area meet up for participants going on Friday.

SUNDAY RUN(Observers)

Observers who are driving up Sunday will meet up at 8:30 a.m. in the parking lot on the corner of E. Main St. and Winters Rd. in downtown Winters (across the street from the Putah Creek Cafe at 1 Main Street, Winters, CA. If you want breakfast please arrive early and be prepared to leave promptly at 8:30 a.m.)

NORCAL MINIS' RUN FOR ABSENT FRIENDS

Join NORCAL MINIS for the

"RUN FOR ABSENT FRIENDS"

An Annual Memorial Tribute Run

Dedicated To Those With Whom We Have Motored Who Are No Longer With Us.

On Saturday, April 21, 2012, NorCal MINIs will run backroads from Angel's Camp to Murphy's in the Central California Gold Country. We will stop at Quyle Kilns and get an exclusive tour of this fantastic handmade pottery producer's operation. We will also have lunch at El Jardin.

We will meet up at 11:00 a.m. in the parking lot between Rite-Aid and Taco Bell at 200 South Main Street, Angels Camp, CA. We will leave promptly at 11:30 a.m. for an hour backroads run and arrive for our tour at Quyle Kilns at approximately 1:00 p.m.. After our tour we will proceed to downtown Murphy's for lunch at El Jardin at about 2:00 p.m.

This run is open to Members and non-members. Members, please respond to your email invitation which will be sent in early March. Non-members please tell us you are coming by emailing us at info@norcalminis.com.

All Members receive:
** Official Membership card. This personalized card may be used at a club run or participating vendor ** Signature orange lanyard & name tag ** NORCAL MINIS stickers & car decal (white only) ** Access to exclusive vendor/supplier network

JOIN OUR MINI COMMUNITYJOIN IN THE FUN

(MINI not required to be a member.)

PAY ANNUAL DUES using Paypal Button below.

JOIN THE CLUB

BECOME AN OFFICIAL NORCAL MINIS MEMBER!

--- MEMBERSHIP DUES ---

NORCAL MINIS is open to all and ownership of any MINI model car is encouraged but not required. Payment of annual dues of $25.00 is a prerequisite to membership. Membership begins on date dues are received by the club Treasurer and expire on December 31st of the same year. Payment can be made by cash, check or PayPal (preferred). Members must be at least 18 years of age with legal rights to sign any event disclaimers. One spouse or significant other, per paid membership is considered a member with all the rights and privileges of Club membership. An email and Facebook account is needed to stay in contact with our club.